Soaking pit cover crane



Feb. 3, 1942. J. E. MINTY 2,271,776

KING PIT COVER CRANE Feb. 3, 1942. J. E. MINTY 2,271,776

SOAKING PIT COVER CRANE Filed Marbh 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 TTO wayspits.

Patented Feb. 3, 1942 SOAKING PIT COVER CRANE John E. Minty, Muskegon,Mich, assignor to Manning, Maxwell & Moore, Inc., Muskegon, Mlch., acorporation of New Jersey Application March 28, 1940, Serial No. 326,310

11 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in traveling cranes and moreparticularly to cranes for use in raising, lowering and traversingmovable members such, for example, as heavy fire brick covers for hightemperature furnaces or soaking As is well known, soaking pits areordinarily arranged in side-by-side relation in one or more rows withtheir top covers correspondingly alined. Cranes of the general classhere in question are adapted to be positioned above the covers forraising, lowering and traversing the same, as billets or ingots aremoved into and out of the pits.

Generally stated, it is an object of the present invention to provide inan installation of the type set forth a novel arrangement of a couplingmeans between the crane and the movable members to be manipulated suchthat a selected member in a row may be engaged and then raised by asingle hoisting mechanism which lifts in unison all of the couplingelements carried by the crane and corresponding to various ones of allof the members in the row. By virtue of such an arrangement, fullselective operation is accomplished and yet the crane is quite simplesince a single hoisting means is used to raise and lower in unison allof the member coupling devices, only the desired ones of the latterbeing engaged to lift the selected member.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide in aninstallation of the type set forth, and inwhich all of the couplingmeans are raised and lowered in unison by a single hoisting mechanism onthe crane, a novel arbetween the members to be lifted and crane are usedcomprising complemental sets of coupling elements carried respectivelyon the members and crane, and constructed toengage and hold againstvertical separation when moved horizontally into registry. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide in an installation embodying A inunison to corresponding successive positions in a direction transverselyto the row of movable members being manipulated. By this meansmanipulation of the apparatus to effect the desired selection of themember to be raised is greatly simplified.

The invention also resides in a novel crane construction of suchcharacter as to provide for a simple manipulation of the couplingelements carried by it, in the course of the selection operation setforth above.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a soaking pit cover craneinstallation embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a' detailed fragmentary end elevation of one of the couplings.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the crane takensubstantially along the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of apparatus embodyingthe invention.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are generally diagrammatic plan views of the row ofsoaking pit covers of Fig. 1 showing, respectively, three difierentpositions of the coupling devices for engaging respective ones of thethree covers in the row.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are generally diagrammatic plan views, of the samecharacter as Figs; 5, 6 and 7, but illustrating the arrangement ofcoupling elements for the modified form of the installation shown inFig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a general perspective view of a hoisting frame adapted to beused in the modified construction of Fig. 4.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aimto cover all modifications and alternative arrangements falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

In the first exemplary construction (Fig. 1) the invention has beenillustrated as embodied in a traveling crane installation arranged tomanipulate a group of soaking pit'covers A, B and C, here shown as threein number and disposed in a single row. It will be understood that anyreasonable number of covers may be placed in a single row and thatfurther rows, parallel with that shown, may be used if desired. The pitcovers A, B and C may be of conventional and well known form and maycomprise, for example, a rectangular frame or shell with a heavyrefractory lining on its bottom face. These covers close the throats ofcorresponding soaking pits which open in to a furnace room floor It. Thefunction of the crane is to manipulate these heavy covers, that is, liftthem, traverse them laterally to expose the pit beneath. and then returnthem to their initial positions.

The traveling crane of the present installation (Fig. 1) comprises abridge or carriage designated generally as H, arranged to span the rowof covers A, B and C. This carriage embodies a pair of longitudinalI-beam side members l2 arched downward at their opposite ends andrigidly connected to suitably reeni'orced and generally rectangular endframes l3. A plurality of transverse beams l4, rigidly fixed at theiropposite ends to the beams l2, also Join the latter. To support thebridge II for movement in a direction transverse to the row of covers,it is carried on four flanged wheels I! (of which one is shown inFig. 1) arranged in pairs at its respective ends and running on railsl6, which extend along the opposite ends of the row of covers andtransverse to the row. The wheels |5 are suitably journaled in the endframes ii).

To traverse the bridge along the rails IS,

an electric driving motor I! (Fig. l) is mounted on the bridge andconnected through a suitable drive connection of well known form (notshown) to the wheels IS. A solenoid brake, indicated generally at It,serves to arrest rotation of the motor I! and to stop the bridge whenthe traversing motor I! is deenergized. Any suitable form of reversingcontroller (not shown) may be provided for the traversing motor H.

A single hoisting mechanism is provided on the crane bridge and in orderto make it possible to use this single mechanism to manipulate thecovers one by one, means is provided for coupling the hoisting mechanismto only one selected cover at a time. In general, this selectionoperation is accomplished by utilizing a patterned distribution of thecooperating coupling or connecting elements on the covers and cranerespectively'so that relative movement between them serves to bring intoregistry (i. e. into engaging position) only those elements associatedwith successive ones of the covers.

The first exemplary patterned distribution of the coupling elements willbest be understood by reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7. As therein showncoupling members, each designated generally as i9, are fixed torespective ones of the covers ,A, B and C, four such, coupling membersbeing fixed to each cover. The four coupling members on each cover arelocated at the corners of a rectangular pattern, such pattern for eachcover being of the same size as that for the others. The key to theexemplary arrangement is the fact, however, that the groups of couplingmembers on successive covers are laterally offset with respect to eachother in a direction transverse to the row. On the crane is a set ofcomplemental coupling members each designated generally as 20, and alsoarranged in rectangular patterns, one for each cover. In the case ofthese coupling members carried by the crane,

however, all of the groups of four are alined longitudinally of the row.Furthermore. they are adapted to be moved in unison transversely of therow of covers, in this instance by traversing of the crane in suchdirection.

In general, whenever one of the coupling members 20 is in registry withone oi the members it they are interlocked against separation in avertical direction, although freely movable in a horizontal direction.Hence, when the cranecarried coupling members 20 are positioned as shownin Fig. 5 they register only with the complemental coupling members iton the cover A. Therefore, simultaneous raising of all or thecrane-carried coupling members 2|, by the single hoisting mechanismnoted, causes only the cover A to be lifted. Similarly, to lift thecover B, the crane-carried coupling elements 20 are shifted transverselyto the position of Fig. 6 where theyregister only with the complementalelements f9 on the cover B; and to lift the cover 0 the elements 20 aretra.versed to the position of Fig. '7 where they register only with themembers It on the cover 0.

Turning now to the details of the coupling devices |9, 20, it shouldbenoted first of all that the arrangement described for effectingselective engagement of. them makes it unnecessary to have anyarticulated or pivoted parts in the couplings themselves. In otherwords, tong-type grippers heretofore frequently used can be eliminatedand a much more simple and rugged type of coupling utilized, which hasno moving parts to get out of order. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, thecoupling members on the covers A, B and C may take the form of simpleT-heads, fashioned from suitable lengths of an I-beam and rigidlysecured at the proper points to covers. The complemental couplingmembers 20 on the crane comprise yokes embodying opposed integralC-shaped portions (see particularly Fig. 2) adapted to slide freely in ahorizontal direction with respect to the T-heads I! but engageable withanism raises and lowers in unison all of the crane-carried couplingmembers 20, as well as any one of the covers which they may haveengaged. This hoisting mechanism comprises an electric hoisting motor 22(Fig. I) mounted on a platform 23 fixed between the bridge beams |2.This motor is coupled in driving relation, through a suitable worm andworm wheel in a casing 24 and a speed reduction gearing in a casing 25,with a shaft 26 which extends longitudinally of the bridge and isrotatably journaled in bearing pedestals fixed to the transverse beamsll of the latter. Keyed on this shaft 26 are three pairs of eccentrics21. Embracing each of these eccentrics is an eccentric strap 28 (seeFig. 3) and projecting laterally in opposite directions from each ofthese straps are rigidly connected arms 28, 29.

The outer ends of the arms 28, 29 are connected through pivoted linkageswith the opposite ends of the beams 2| which carry the coupling members20 so as to raise and lower the latter in response to oscillation of theshaft 26 in opposite directions. In particular, the arms 28 (see Fig. 3)are pivotally connected to bell cranks 30, in the form of triangularplates pivoted on the transverse bridge beams It at 3|. The other armsof these bell cranks 30 are connected Consequently, rotation of themotor 41 in opposite directions serves respectively to move the lines ofcoupling members 20 toward and away from each other.

Hoisting and lowering of the frame 40 serves to raise and lower thecoupling members 20 in unison. A single hoisting mechanism is used.forthis purpose (see Fig. 4) substantially identical with that heretoforedescribed for theinstallation of Fig. 1. The same reference numeralsidentify idential parts. Thus, in Fig. 11 it will be observed that thelinks 32 and 36 heretofore described may be connected to the hoistingframe 40 at the points shown and. of course, theremainder of thehoisting'mechanism can from thereon be identified, the whole hoistingframe being suspended beneath a bridge identical with the bridge llpreviously described (Fig. 4).

The operation of the modified apparatus will, in general, be ap arentfrom the foregoing. The hoisting frame is lowered to bring the yokes 20*to engagement level" and the crane may be centered over the row ofcovers D, E, F. Assuming it is desired to lift, say, the cover D, themotor 41 (Fig. 11) is rotated to spread the lines of coupling members20' apart to the position of Fig. 8. Thereupon they register with orembrace only the T-heads IS in cover D, those on the other covers beingdisengaged. Consequently, when all of the members ill rise, uponhoisting the frame 40, only the cover D will rise with them. Similarly,to raise the covers E or F, the lines of crane-carried couplings areshifted respectively to the position of Figs. 9 and 10. To restore thecovers to their initial positions it is only necessary to lower theframe 40, whereupon the couplings will be automatically disengaged whenthe members 20 are moved laterally either by the motor 41 or bytraversing the crane bridge.

I claim as my invention: I

1. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in a row and which are to be manipulated, of a crane bridgearranged to move transversely of the row of covers in spanning relationthereto, a first set of connecting means carried by respective ones ofsaid movable members. a second set of connecting means engageable withcorresponding ones of the first set when in registry therewith andcarried by said bridge, the connecting means in said second set beingalined with each other longitudinally of the row, the connecting meansin the first set being disposed so that those on each member are offsettransversely of the row with respect to those of every other member inthe row, whereby the connecting means for the second set can onlyregister with those in the first set for one selected member at a time,and power actuated means for raising and lowering in unison all of saidsecond set'of connecting means and the selected member whosecorresponding connecting means in the first set is engaged thereby.

2. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in a row and which are to be manipulated, of a crane bridgearranged to span the row longitudinally, a power actuated hoistingmechanism carried by said bridge, means for coupling said hoistingmechanism to a selected one of said members for raising the same, saidlast mentioned means comprising a plurality of coupling elementsflxed tosaid covers and a plurality of complemental coupling elements engageablewith respective ones 3. The combination with a plurality of indi-'vidually'movable members alined in a row and which are to bemanipulated, of a crane bridge arranged to move transversely of the rowof members in spanning relation thereto; a first set of connecting meanscarried by respective ones of said members; a second set of connectingmeans engageable with corresponding ones in the first set when inregistry therewith and carried by said bridge; the various connectingmeans in one of said sets corresponding to each member in the row, beingoifset with respect to those corresponding to every other member in therow,

whereby the connecting means in the other set can at any one timeregister with those of only one selected member for engagementtherewith; and power actuated means on said bridge for raising andlowering in unison all of the said second set of connecting means andthe selected member whose corresponding connecting means of the firstset isengaged thereby.

4. In an installation of the type set forth, the combination with a rowof individually movable members to be manipulated and a.crane bridgespanning the row and movable horizontally relative to it, of a first setof coupling elements fixed to individual ones of said members. and asecond set of complemental coupling elements carried by the cranebridge, said sets of elements being disposed relative to each other forengagement at any one time of the coupling elements asso-- ciated withnot more than one of said members,

and means for raising and iowering in unison all of said second set ofcoupling elements.

5. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in a row and :which are to be manipulated, of a crane bridgearranged to span the row longitudinally, a first set of connecting meanscarried by respective ones of said members, a second set of connectingmeans engageable with corresponding ones of the :flrst set when inregistry therewith and carried by said bridge, the connecting means insaid second set being alined with each other longitudinally of the row,the connecting means in the first set being disposed so that those oneach member are offset transversely of the row with respect to those onevery other member in the row, whereby the connecting means in thesecond set can only register with those in the first set for oneselected member at a time, a first power acl tuated means for moving inunison all of said first set of connecting means in a directiontransverse of the row of members to bring them into registry with theconnecting means of sad first set corresponding to a selected one ofsaid members, and a second power actuated means for raising andloweringin unison all of said set of connecting means.

6. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in a row and which are to be manipulated, of coupling means attheir outer ends with arms of bell cranks I2,

also shown in the form of triangular plates pivoted on the transversebridge beams ll at 24. The other arm of each of these bell cranks 32 isin turn pivotally connected at 35 with an upstanding arm 28 rigid withrespective ones of the beams 2|.

In the operation of the apparatus described, the hoisting motor 22 isoperated to oscillate the shaft 28 in a direction to lower thecrane-carried coupling members 2| to what may be termed the engagementlevel" shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or, in order words, to a level at whichthe members 20 can be slid freely in a horizontal direction with respectto the complemental members it into engagement therewith. Assuming thatthe operator desires first of all to lift the cover A,

k the traversing motor I1 is operated to move the crane bridge ll alongthe rails l until the coupling elements are positioned as shown in Fig.5. It will be observed that in such case only the coupling members I! onthe cover A are in registry with their corresponding crane-carriedcoupling members 20. Having thus selectively positioned the couplingelements of the apparatus the hoisting motor 22 is operated to oscillatethe shaft 26 (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3) to lift in unison all ofthe crane-carried coupling members 20. The engaged cover A, of course,rises with them. If desired, the crane bridge ll may then be traversedfurther along the rail It to move the lifted cover away from the throatof its underlying pit so as to afford access to the latter. I

To replace the cover it is only necessary to perform in reverse orderthe operations noted. To lift either of the other covers B and C thecrane is positioned to bring the crane-carried coupling members 20 intothe positions indicated in Figs. 6 or '1, respectively.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the illustrative apparatusmakes possible full selectivity of operation while using but a singlehoist- ,ing mechanism on the crane. More than that,

the coupling elements for connecting the covers to the crane are of suchsimple and rugged form that they are not only low in cost but can bemade so strong as practically to preclude the possibility of breakage ordamage during use, particularly in view of the fact that if desiredmoving parts may be entirely dispensed with as in the form shown.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, I have shown a modified pattern of couplingelements for a row of soaking pit covers D, E and F, also adapted foruse in an installation embodying the invention and shown generally inFig. 4. These covers, incidentally, may be of identically the same formas those heretofore described and arranged in the same manner except forthe location of the coupling elements which are attached to them. Asbefore, a group of coupling members i9 are fixed to each of the coversand complemental coupling members 20' are carried by the crane. Also, asbefore,=four coupling members on each cover are disposed at the cornersof a rectangular pattern, but in thisinstance the lateral offset betweenthe coupling members of the various covers is accomplished by making therectangles of successively smaller width rather than offsettingrectangles of the same size as in the arrangement of Figs. to 7 andfurthermore the complementai coupling members on the crane are arrangedto be shifted relative to each other on the bridge to en age the membersI! in a selected cover. 'lhus, in Fig. 8, it will be seen that thecoupling members I! on the middle cover E are arranged substantially atthe corners of a square while those on the cover 1'' are arranged at thecorners of a somewhat narrower rectangle, and those on the cover Dat'the corners of a somewhat wider rectangle.

The oomplemental crane-carried coupling members 2. are arranged in twolongitudinally extending rows or lines. As before the cranecarriedcoupling members are movable horizontally relative to those on thecovers to effect thedesired selection operation, but in this instanceare mounted on the crane so that the lines or rows noted can be movedtoward and away from each other to effect the selection operation. Whenthe two lines of coupling members 20' are spread apart, as shown in Fig.8, they register only with the couping member 19' on the cover D. Whendrawn together toward each other to the, position of Fig. 9 theyregister only with the members on cover E and, similarly, when drawntogether still further to the position of Fig. 10 they register onlywith the coupling members on the cover F. It will thus be evident thatfull selectivity of operation is accomplished as before.

The coupling elements is, 2l' in the modified construction may have thesame characteristics of simplicity and ruggedness as those for theinstallation first described and are, in fact, desirably identical inform. with the T-heads and yokes It and 2., heretofore set forth.

Some revision is necessary in the crane structure heretofore set forthin order to accommodate the shifting of the two lines of crane-carriedcoupling members 20' toward and away from each other as described forthe modified installation. For this purpose a hoisting frame ll (Fig.11) is utilized. This frame comprises a border made up of rigidly joinedlongitudinal and transverse beams 4| and 42, respectively. Between theselongitudinal beams ll are also fixed transverse beams or rails 43,corresponding in location to the beams 2| described in connection withthe first installation. Slidable endwise of each of these beams 43 aretwo slider heads 44. Integral with each of these heads on their lowersides are the coupling elements 20". All of the slider heads 44 adjacentone side of the crane are held in alinement longitudinally of the craneby means of interconnecting or hoisting beams 45, rigidly joined tothem. In the same way. interconnecting or hoisting beams 46 join theslider heads 44 in the line at the opposite side of the crane.

To move the two lines of slider heads 44, and their attached couplingmembers 20', toward and away from each other transversely of thehoisting frame 40, an electric driving motor 41 is utilized. This motoris carried on a platform 48 secured to the central portions of the crossbeams 43 and is connected, through a suitable speed reduction gearinghoused in a casing 49, with a rotatably mounted shaft il extendinglongitudinally of the hoisting frame It. The opposite ends of this shaft50 are connected, through worm and worm wheel drives housed in casings5|, with transverse lead screws 52. These lead screws are Journaled forrotation and are restrained against endwise movement by bearings 58 onthe border frame longitudinal beams H. The opposite end portions of thelead screws 52 have right and left hand threads thereon and are threadedin fixed nuts 5! on the hoisting beams 45 and 48.

associated with respective ones of said members, each of said couplingmeans comprising complemental elements freely movable relative to eachother in a horizontal direction transverse to the row of covers into andout of registry and engageable with each other upon vertical movementwhen in registry, one element of each of said couplings being fixed to acorresponding one of said movable members and the elements fixed to eachmember being ofiset in a direction transverse to the row with respect tocorresponding elements on other members in the row, the complementalelements being arranged in alinement longitudinally of the row, andpower actuated means for traversing in unison said complemental elementsin a direction transverse of the row and for raising and lowering thesame in unison.

7. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in a row and which are to be manipulated, of coupling meansassociated with respective ones of said members, each of said couplingmeans comprising a grip element and a complemental head element freelymovable relative to each other in a horizontal direction transverse tothe row of members into and out of registry and engaged with each otherupon vertical movement when in registry, a crane bridge spanning the rowof members longitudinally, one element of each coupling being fixed to amember and the other being carried by said bridge for vertical movement,the elements fixed to the members comprising a first set and thosecarried by the bridge comprising a second set, the elements in one setcorresponding to each member being offset transversely of the row withrespect to those in the same set corresponding to the other members inthe row, the elements in the other set being alined longitudinally ofthe row, and power actuated means on the bridge for raising and loweringsaid second set in unison.

8. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in .a row and which are to be manipulated, of a crane bridgearranged to move transversely of the row of members in spanning relationthereto, a coupling element fixed to each of said members and offset inadirection transverse of the row with respect to a correspondinglylocated coupling element on each of the other members, said elements onthe successive members being offset with respect to each other in thesame direction, a plurality of complemental coupling elements movablefreely with respect to the coupling elements on the members in ahorizontal direction but engageable therewith to prevent separationtherefrom in a vertical direction when registered therewith, meanssupporting said complemental elements on the crane bridge for verticalmovement but restraining the same against horizontal movement relativeto the bridge, a first power actuated means for traversing the bridgerelative to the row of members to bring the corresponding couplingelements into registry with those for a selected member, and a secondpower actuated means for raising and lowering said complemental couplingelements in unison.

9. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined in a row and which are to be manipulated, of a crane bridgearranged to move transversely of the members in spanning relationthereto, four coupling elements fixed to each member at the respectivefour corners of a rectangular patterrneach of said rectangular patternsbeing of the same size but ofiset on its member in a directiontransverse to the row with respect to the patterns on the other members,a plurality of complemental coupling elements movable freely withrespect to the coupling elements on the members in a horizontaldirection but engageable therewith to prevent separation therefrom in avertical direction when registered therewith, means supporting saidcomplemental coupling elements on said crane bridge for verticalmovement but restraining the same against horizontal movement relativeto the bridge, said complemental elements being arranged in groups offour corresponding to the respective groups on the movable members butwith all of the groups on the crane alined longitudinally on the latterrather than bein ofiset like those on the movable members, whereby thecrane may be traversed transversely to the row to bring a correspondinggroup of coupling elements thereon into registry with that on a selectedmovable member while the others remain out of registry, and poweractuated means for raising and lowering all of. said coupling elementson said crane substantially in unison.

10. In combination, a crane bridge adapted to I span longitudinally arow of individually movable members such as soaking pit covers andmovable transversely of the row, a plurality of beams extendingtransversely of the bridge and spaced apart from each otherlongitudinally of it, a shaft rotatably journaled on the bridge andextending longitudinally of it, power actuated means for rotating saidshaft in opposite directions, means operatively connecting said shaftand said beams for raising and lowering the latter in response torotation of the shaft in corresponding directions, and coupling membersconnected to opposite end portions of each of said beams and adapted toengage complemental coupling members on respective ones of the movablemembers.

11. The combination with a plurality of individually movable membersalined. in a row and which are to be manipulated, of a crane bridgearranged to move transversely of the row in spanning relation thereto,four coupling elements fixed to each member at the respective fourcorners of a rectangiflar pattern, each of said rectangular patternsbeing of the same length longitudinally of the row but of successivelylesser width on successive members to eifect an offset relation betweenthe elements on successive members, a plurality of complemental couplingelements movable freely with respect to the coupling elements on themovable members in a horizontal direction but engageable therewith toprevent separation therefrom in a vertical direction when in registrytherewith, said complemental elements being arranged in groups of fourbut with all of those adjacent one side of the row of movable membersdisposed in one line and all of those adjacent the other side in asecond line, means supporting said set of complemental coupling elementsfor vertical movement on the bridge, a first power actuated means formoving said rows of complemental coupling elements toward and away fromeach other to bring corresponding ones thereof into registry with thegroup of coupling elements of a selected one of said movable members,and a second power actuated means on the bridge for raising and loweringboth of said lines of complemental coupling elements in unison.

JOHN E. MIN'I'Y.

